Some of the brightest live acts during the new season at the Island

Island Arts Centre’s January-June 2015 season brings some of the brightest live acts to Lisburn.

Music features strongly in the season. Acts from across the Atlantic include the Grammy nominated acoustic bluegrass super group The Special Consensus.

Special Consensus.

Formidable indie act Drew Holcomb promoting his new album “Music is Medicine.” While Canadian folk fiddler and dancer, April Verch and her Band promises to take audiences on a high-octane, foot-stomping, joyful journey through North American roots music.

American legends also feature in the authentic powerful live multimedia show Bookends which tells the compelling story of the greatest music duo of all time Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

While the beautifully talented Dana Masters returns with the American North Central University Concert Chorale for a night of gospel and choral classics.

Adding to the roots vibe is acclaimed and award-winning Edinburgh based collective Southern Tenant Folk Union who will play an eclectic mix of high energy atmospheric folk.

If it is laughs you’re after then The Nualas - an all-female comedy sensation - or Ursula Burn’s one woman comedy harp show promises madness, music and mayhem. Direct from a sell-out West End season comes Luke Kempner’s energetic impressions comedy, The Only Way is Downton described by Stephen Fry as ‘A fine impressionist, giving a splendid display of Downtonry.’

Comedy meets the frontline in C21 Theatre Company’s dark, edgy satirical drama Stitched Up about the current crisis within the NHS. While set to get you gripped is Bill Clinton Hercules, a one-man biopic performed as a fantasy TED Talk but is the ultimate tell-all of the 42nd President.

Another brilliant piece of theatre is Dalloway, a beautiful stage adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s modernist novel which offers a compellingly feminine response to the aftermath of the First World War. Or join us for a night of tasty ‘theatre tapas’ in Arrivals2 where five of our best local writers dramatise the stories of Northern Ireland’s second generation immigrants.

Words of a different kind are brought to life in poetry readings by one of Northern Ireland’s foremost contemporary poets, Michael Longley followed later in the season by the acclaimed comedian Owen O’Neill.

At the Island they believe everyone has a story to tell. Resonance is a weeklong event which explores the link between brain injury and creativity through immersive experiences, visual arts and film. It aims to honour and promote each storyteller’s experience while promoting awareness of issues relating to brain injury.

Joyful chaos reigns for young theatre-goers too. Nico and Martin join the Island for a gig full of songs, imaginative sound play and unusual instruments. While Maiden Voyage Dance presents Quartet for Fifteen Chairs featuring a cast of four dancers, fifteen chairs and twenty-five minutes of riotous, musical movement.

Little ones too can delve into Island Kids where the emphasis is on full-on fun workshops including popular half-term schemes, which are guaranteed to be joy through learning.

Visual Arts - For the ultimate in ‘Homemade,’ throw your crafting inhibitions to the wind and join Island’s team of talented tutors and craft artists and create gorgeous, unique crafts to impress. Or visit one of our many exhibitions featuring the best in local art.

Putting Arts right in the heart of our city is Island’s Community Arts and Education, where they have included free opportunities for schools as well as funding opportunities and arts schemes for community groups and local artists.

Just a few of the reasons to join the Island Arts Centre this 2015

Remember to keep up to date with the latest Island offers, peek previews, artist interviews and footage www.facebook.com/ISLAND-ArtsCentre and www.twitter.com/ISLANDartsbiz